STAGE set for 3rd India-US 2+2 strategic talks tomorrow

US Secretary of Defence Dr Mark Esper and Secretary of State  Michael R Pompeo arrived in Delhi today for the 3rd India-US 2+2 Ministerial dialogue tomorrow with Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Minister for External Affairs  S Jaishankar. India and  U.S. are expected to sign the last fundamental agreement, Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation during the talks. Rajnath Singh met his United States counterpart Mark Esper this evening. The Defence Minister said India is delighted to host Secretary Esper. In a tweet, Rajnath  Singh said, their talks today were fruitful and aimed at further deepening defence cooperation in a wide range of areas. Today’s discussions will add new vigour to India-US defence relations and mutual cooperation, the RM said.

External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar also met his US counterpart Mike Pompeo later during the day. The Third Annual India-US, two plus two Ministerial Dialogue scheduled for tomorrow will focus on advancing the Indo-US comprehensive global strategic partnership and further strengthening cooperation to promote stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and the world. As the world’s oldest and largest democracies, the two countries share deep-rooted democratic traditions. The growth in partnership reflects deepening strategic convergence on a host of issues including energy, aviation, science, space, infrastructure and health among others. Secretary Pompeo and Esper will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday afternoon after the two plus two Ministerial meets.